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estherfilbrun's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time, and recently, I was able to get it as an audiobook and listened to it while on a trip. What a fascinating story—but also a great reminder of Who God is and what He has done for us!
I think the biggest thing that struck me about this story was what an intimate relationship God wants to have with us. Of course, the way it looks changes from person to person, but I loved seeing how He dealt with Bilquis to draw her closer to Himself. She was very sensitive to His leading, and I think that may have saved her a lot of grief in the long run.
As far as the setting goes, I didn’t feel like I got to know Pakistan very well through this, although it’s obviously a beloved country to Bilquis. Due to the way she lived, almost as a hermit, that wasn’t such a big part of the story. At the same time, I think her lifestyle may have protected her to some extent, too, so there aren’t such violent things in her story as we may hear from other Christians in that country.
This wasn’t the most fascinating book I’ve ever read, but I’m glad I was able to take the time for it. It’s refreshing to hear other Christian’s stories, and I came away blessed by this read. Recommended!
I think the biggest thing that struck me about this story was what an intimate relationship God wants to have with us. Of course, the way it looks changes from person to person, but I loved seeing how He dealt with Bilquis to draw her closer to Himself. She was very sensitive to His leading, and I think that may have saved her a lot of grief in the long run.
As far as the setting goes, I didn’t feel like I got to know Pakistan very well through this, although it’s obviously a beloved country to Bilquis. Due to the way she lived, almost as a hermit, that wasn’t such a big part of the story. At the same time, I think her lifestyle may have protected her to some extent, too, so there aren’t such violent things in her story as we may hear from other Christians in that country.
This wasn’t the most fascinating book I’ve ever read, but I’m glad I was able to take the time for it. It’s refreshing to hear other Christian’s stories, and I came away blessed by this read. Recommended!
stephanie6504's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
flori_faith's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
joannam21's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderful story of faith, obedience and encountering Jesus! As a book, 3*. As a story that will speak to you, 5*! I listened to this for free on the Audible Plus catalogue.
caseytuggle's review against another edition
3.0
I would recommend I Dared to Call Him Father to those wanting to understand more about God of the Bible versus Allah of the Quran. It can also be a helpful comparison for students wanting to learn more about the differences in Abrahamic religions from someone who had been a follower of two of them. On the simple merits of general reading with a spiritual lesson, I would likely recommend other books with better structure and more linear development.
misskriss4301's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
uscrx's review against another edition
4.0
The autobiography of a Pakistani woman who came to know Christ, with the consequence of losing all her Muslim family relationships, being ostracized in her home town, and having eventually to leave her country. Fascinating on many levels, especially how visions played a large part in her salvation, and how having a close, very intimate relationship with her Lord was the key to her growth and usefulness. Highly recommended!
perilous1's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating and powerfully affecting.
This book is a memoir and a testimony, opening a window into the life and stunning spiritual conversion of a Pakistani matriarch by the name of Madame Bilquis Sheikh. Powerful, intelligent, and wealthy, Bilquis has a regal sort of personality that grabs readers from the very start. Having retreated to her family's estate after her husband rejects and divorces her, Bilquis has become a sort of middle-aged recluse—rearing her young grandson and attempting to uphold what remains of her dignity. Snappish and proud, the woman undergoes a radical change when—in a series of vivid dreams—she has an encounter that forces her to reassess her long held beliefs. But the pressure to hide what's happened to her is enormous.
Bilquis' voice and appearance is laid out in such detail, I felt as though I could 'hear' her telling me her tale as I read. The sentence structure is simple enough, with a richness and elegance that seems to reflect the woman herself. Descriptions are vivid, fondly painting both the landscape of Pakistan and its people. Cultural details are explained with patient sensitivity, highlighting the difficulties and misunderstandings between not only faiths but deeply entrenched mindsets regarding classes and stations.
It's difficult not to empathize with Bilquis as she takes such care in trying not to hurt her family, but ultimately chooses obedience to God as her first priority. Her spiritual awakening, sensitivity, and determination to remain in God's presence is passionately authentic and keenly inspiring. Her spiritual growth recounts much of her rapid progress, missteps, and a consistent overcoming of an ingrained elitist nature. Awesome and challenging—her experiences certainly put this reader's first-world problems squarely in their place.
Though this book and account is technically dated, it rarely felt that way. Possibly because there's been relatively little change in the socio-political atmosphere of Pakistan since the late 1960s.
I was recommended 'I Dared to Call Him Father' by a Pakistani friend of mine, and I realized early on why she so badly wanted me to read it. She was trying to impart a better understanding of her personal situation as an oppressed member of a minority Christian community--in a country that remains viciously hostile toward its minority and serving classes. And now that I have a better grasp, I am all the more concerned for my friend and hopeful for her destiny.
This book is a memoir and a testimony, opening a window into the life and stunning spiritual conversion of a Pakistani matriarch by the name of Madame Bilquis Sheikh. Powerful, intelligent, and wealthy, Bilquis has a regal sort of personality that grabs readers from the very start. Having retreated to her family's estate after her husband rejects and divorces her, Bilquis has become a sort of middle-aged recluse—rearing her young grandson and attempting to uphold what remains of her dignity. Snappish and proud, the woman undergoes a radical change when—in a series of vivid dreams—she has an encounter that forces her to reassess her long held beliefs. But the pressure to hide what's happened to her is enormous.
Bilquis' voice and appearance is laid out in such detail, I felt as though I could 'hear' her telling me her tale as I read. The sentence structure is simple enough, with a richness and elegance that seems to reflect the woman herself. Descriptions are vivid, fondly painting both the landscape of Pakistan and its people. Cultural details are explained with patient sensitivity, highlighting the difficulties and misunderstandings between not only faiths but deeply entrenched mindsets regarding classes and stations.
It's difficult not to empathize with Bilquis as she takes such care in trying not to hurt her family, but ultimately chooses obedience to God as her first priority. Her spiritual awakening, sensitivity, and determination to remain in God's presence is passionately authentic and keenly inspiring. Her spiritual growth recounts much of her rapid progress, missteps, and a consistent overcoming of an ingrained elitist nature. Awesome and challenging—her experiences certainly put this reader's first-world problems squarely in their place.
Though this book and account is technically dated, it rarely felt that way. Possibly because there's been relatively little change in the socio-political atmosphere of Pakistan since the late 1960s.
I was recommended 'I Dared to Call Him Father' by a Pakistani friend of mine, and I realized early on why she so badly wanted me to read it. She was trying to impart a better understanding of her personal situation as an oppressed member of a minority Christian community--in a country that remains viciously hostile toward its minority and serving classes. And now that I have a better grasp, I am all the more concerned for my friend and hopeful for her destiny.
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating book about a fairly well-off woman in Pakistan who converted from Islam to Christianity to the horror of her family. Bilquis is very honest about being an unpleasant woman who had no respect for her servants but describes how she became a better person after converting, learning how to put others first. She also talks about the pain of turning her back on Islam and suffering the condemnation of her family, even fearing for her life.
Bilquis has visions of Jesus talking to her, which leaves her startled, and when the Koran does not provide the answers she seeks, she asks Christian missionaries in her town to help her. With their support, she slowly learns about Jesus and makes the life changing decision to convert, a brave move for someone so respected in her Islamic community. She details her struggle to remain true to God in times of stress.
This was a really interesting read, especially covering how she felt that God spoke directly to her to advise her what to do. It must have been a really confusing time for her when she struggled to decide her religious future, knowing that her family would be furious and her town would turn against her. She must have had amazing courage to follow her convictions.
Bilquis has visions of Jesus talking to her, which leaves her startled, and when the Koran does not provide the answers she seeks, she asks Christian missionaries in her town to help her. With their support, she slowly learns about Jesus and makes the life changing decision to convert, a brave move for someone so respected in her Islamic community. She details her struggle to remain true to God in times of stress.
This was a really interesting read, especially covering how she felt that God spoke directly to her to advise her what to do. It must have been a really confusing time for her when she struggled to decide her religious future, knowing that her family would be furious and her town would turn against her. She must have had amazing courage to follow her convictions.